Lawrence County Commissioners: Fosnaught loses seat

NEW CASTLE - Three times, Ed Fosnaught ran for Lawrence County commissioner as a Republican, and three times he won. After switching parties in February, he's 0-1 as a Democrat.

NEW CASTLE - Three times, Ed Fosnaught ran for Lawrence County commissioner as a Republican, and three times he won.

After switching parties in February, he's 0-1 as a Democrat.

With 100 percent of the county's precincts counted, Richard DeBlasio, a substitute teacher, received 4,749 votes, and incumbent Commissioner Steve Craig received 4,230, each securing the Democratic nominations, according to unofficial results.

Incumbent Commissioner Dan Vogler, the current board chairman, led the Republican field with 4,874 votes, ahead of Shirley Sallmen and David Cochenour. Sallmen led Cochenour 2,609 to 2,571 votes.

DeBlasio, Craig, Vogler and Sallmen will be on the ballot in November for the three commissioners' seats.

In spite of his defeat, Fosnaught defended his decision to switch parties, even after saying he probably would have advanced to the November general election had he stayed a Republican in a field that included two virtual unknowns in Sallmen and Cochenour.

The jump put Fosnaught into a crowded six-candidate Democratic field, but he said that didn't make a difference because he would have had to beat all but one of those Democrats either in May or during the general election in November.

"I've had 12 good years as a commissioner," Fosnaught said Tuesday. "I'm grateful to the people of Lawrence County for electing me three times."

During the campaign, Servedio was plagued by allegations that he crossed picket lines during a labor dispute at Standard Steel in Beaver County, and the accusation might have hurt him with organized labor.

Earlier this month, Servedio, owner of Servedio Electric Machines, said he regretted crossing the Standard Steel picket line, but added that those who crossed the picket line kept the plant running and might have prevented the company from leaving the region.

Eric Poole can be reached online at epoole@ellwoodcityledger.com.

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